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The Substitute (Glee)

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"The Substitute" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American television series Glee. It was the 29th episode of the entire series. The episode was directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Ian Brennan. It was first broadcast on FOX on November 16, 2010. The episode was watched by 11.70 million people in the United States. It was the top scripted show among adults aged 18–49 for the week it was broadcast. The episode guest stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Holly Holliday. She is a substitute teacher who does Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) job as glee club director while he is sick. Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) becomes principal of William McKingley High School, and glee club members Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) and Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) start to feel stress in their growing friendship.

"The Substitute"
Glee episodes
Glee title card.svg
Title card of the show.
Episode nos.Season 2
Episodes 7
Directed byRyan Murphy
Written byIan Brennan
Production code207
Gwyneth Paltrow
(Holly Holliday)
Harry Shum, Jr.
(Mike Chang)
Iqbal Theba
(Principal Figgins)
Chord Overstreet
(Sam Evans)
Dot-Marie Jones
(Shannon Beiste)
Max Adler
(Dave Karofsky)
Lauren Potter
(Becky Jackson)
Darren Criss
(Blaine Anderson)
Lindsey Sims-Lewis
(Cameo)
Ashley Fink
(Lauren Zizes)
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The episode includes cover versions of six songs. These songs got mixed reviews from music and television journalists. The cover version of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" and mash-up of "Singin' in the Rain" with Rihanna's "Umbrella" was given good reviews. Both covers' charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Paltrow's guest appearance was given positive reviews.[1][2][3] The sub-plots of the episode did not get good reviews.[4] Aly Semigran of MTV, Robert Canning of IGN and Entertainment Weekly's Tim Stack all thought that "The Substitute" is the best episode of the season.[5] Time's James Poniewozik said that the episode was an "okay" episode.[6] Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club said it was better than the previous two episodes.[7] The National Alliance on Mental Illness gave positive reviews for the episode's definition of bipolar disorder.[8] Paltrow won the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series" for her acting.

Plot

Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) is given the job of being the principal of William McKinley High School. She was given the job after causing Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) to be infected with the flu. Glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) also gets the flu. He takes time off from work to get better. He is cared for by his ex-wife Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig). This leads to them sleeping together.

Glee club co-captain Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) tries to take over for Will. This results in problems. At the request of Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer), club lessons are taught by substitute teacher Holly Holliday (Gwyneth Paltrow). She has different ways of doing things. These include talking about Lindsay Lohan's rehabilitation in Spanish, singing "Conjunction Junction" to her English class, and pretending to be a bipolar Mary Todd Lincoln for the History class. When Holly first goes to glee club rehearsal, she does a cover of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You". The group likes her performance. Rachel is annoyed. She is worried that Holly may not be able to get them ready for the Sectionals competition. Holly later wins over Rachel by "duetting" with her on "Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag" from the musical Chicago.

Kurt rejects his best friend Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) in favor of his new friend Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss). Mercedes does not like it when Kurt tries to set her up on a date with a football player because they are both black. She also feels left out when she comes with Kurt and Blaine to dinner. This is because the conversation is mostly about gay issues and icons. When Sue starts a healthy eating program and says people can not eat "Potater Tots", Mercedes starts a student protest. She also puts Tots in the tailpipe of Sue's car. This causes $17,000 worth of damage.

Sue's program becomes popular with the students' parents. Her job as principal is made permanent, and she fires Will. Will is later visited by Holly who is looking for help. Holly does not think she is doing a good job as a teacher. She thinks this because she caused Mercedes to act the way she did. She tells him that, at first, she took her work seriously. She changed when a student (Lindsay Sims-Lewis) hit her in the face. Because of being hit, she chose to be more laid-back. Terri arrives while they are talking. She gets mad because Holly is there. Will asks Terri to leave. He tells her her that their "reunion" was a mistake and he ends their relationship.

Kurt confronts Mercedes. He tells her that she may be substituting food for love and their friendship for a romantic relationship. Mercedes decides to talk to the student who Kurt tried to set her up with. As she leaves, school bully Dave Karofsky (Max Adler) approaches Kurt. He tells Kurt that he will kill him if Kurt tells people that he is gay. At the request of the glee club members, Sue makes Will the director again. He suggests a group performance of "Singin' in the Rain". Will asks Holly to help them make it modern. They end up with a mash-up with Rihanna's "Umbrella" song.

Production

 
The role of Holly Holliday was created only for Paltrow (pictured).

"The Substitute" is Paltrow's first ever scripted-show guest performance.[9] The role of Holly was created for her by show creator Ryan Murphy. Murphy suggested that she show her vocal and dancing talent before the December 2010 release of the movie Country Strong. In this movie, Paltrow plays a country singer.[10][11] In September 2010, BBC News said that she would be in two more episodes of Glee.[12] E! Online's Kristen dos Santos said that Holly would become a love interest for Will in the episode.[13] Murphy later said that Holly's appearance would create a "love quadrangle" between herself, Will, guidance counselor (a counselor and an educator who helps students with problems they are dealing with in school by giving positive advice.) Emma Phillsbury (Jayma Mays) and her boyfriend Carl Howell (John Stamos).[14] Fancast later said that Paltrow's guest appearance had been shorten to a single episode. They also said that neither Mays and Stamos were in "The Substitute".[15] After the episode was done filming, Murphy stated that both he and Paltrow hoped that she would appear on Glee again in the future. This would depend on a storyline that best fit with her character Holly.[16] In December 2010, Paltrow said that she would return to the series for another episode. A month later, Murphy said she would be on the series again as a sex education teacher.[17][18] Paltrow won the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series" for her work in "The Substitute".[19]

 
Jane Lynch (left) played Sue Sylvester and Matthew Morrson (right) played Will Schuester.

"The Substitute" includes a short "fantasy" moment. In it, Will sees the club members as kindergarten-aged children.[20][21] Child actors were used to act out as the characters' younger selves. These included Jake Vaughn and Lauren Boles as young Finn and Rachel.[22] The episode also includes the return of Gilsig. Gilsig had not been in several episodes of Glee. Gilsig believed that Will's sickness let viewers see the couple in a positive relationship for the first time. She also thought that the addition of Holly "highlighted" a special bonding in their relationship. She said that while Terri is not "the most pleasant person", she is at least faithful to Will, while he has "a wandering eye" (has interest in another women) and treats Terri badly in "The Substitute".[23] The main characters in this episode include glee club members Mike Chang (Harry Shum, Jr.) and Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet), Principal Figgins, school bully Dave Karofsky, cheerleader Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter), wrestler Lauren Zizes (Ashley Fink) and Kurt's friend Blaine Anderson.[24]

"The Substitute" includes cover versions of six songs. Paltrow performs on four of these. She recorded them all in one day.[17] The songs she recorded were "Conjunction Junction" from Schoolhouse Rock!, and a clean version of a Cee Lo Green's song they entitled "Forget You".[25] The producers of the series had wanted Paltrow to sing a Coldplay song. They chose to not do this. They wanted to use the song for a competition episode of Glee.[26] Morrison and Shum, Jr. sang a duet version of "Make 'Em Laugh" from the musical Singin' in the Rain.[20] Paltrow and Michele did a duet on "Nowadays / Hot Honey Rag" from the musical Chicago. Morrison and Paltrow performed a mash-up of "Singin' in the Rain" with "Umbrella" by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z.[25] The cast had to spend twelve hours filming for the mash-up in a tank of water.[11]

All of the songs performed except "Conjunction Junction" were released as digital download singles. "Forget You" is featured on the soundtrack album Glee: The Music, Volume 4 (2011).[27] "Forget You" and "Singing in the Rain / Umbrella" charted both on the Billboard Hot 100 and internationally. "Forget You" peaked at number eleven in the US and number twelve in Canada.[28][29] "Singing in the Rain / Umbrella" peaked at number ten in Ireland.[30] Green's "Forget You" entered the top ten of the Hot 100 for the first time after the Glee cover. His sales increased 94% in a week. Link title

Reception

Ratings

When "The Substitute" was first broadcast on FOX, it was watched by 11.70 million US viewers. It had a 5.0/14 Neilsen rating/share in the 18-49 demographic group.[31] This helped the episode to become the top-rated program of the night for adults aged 18–49.[32] In the weekly rankings, the episode was the top scripted program for adults 18-49. Overall, it placed twentieth for the second season.[33] Views and ratings were both better than the previous episode, "Never Been Kissed". It was watched by 10.99 million viewers and had a 4.6/13 rating/share.[34] In Canada, viewership was also better than the last episode. It was watched by 2.29 million viewers and ranked ninth for the week.[35] The last episode had 1.97 million viewers and ranked twelfth.[36] In Australia, the episode was watched by 1.06 million viewers. This made Glee the seventh most-watched program of the night and nineteenth of the week.[37] In the UK, the episode was watched by 2.55 million viewers-2.11 million on E4, and 439,000 on E4+1.[38] It was the most-watched show on cable for that week.[39]

Music

 
Cee Lo Green (pictured) let Paltrow cover his song "Forget You".

The music performances got mixed feedback from music and television journalist. Anthony Benigno of the Daily News gave "Conjunction Junction" an "A". He had noticed the "ordinarily" (in a normal way) of the song. Benigno did not give a review for the song because of its short length. He only said "what a glorious ten seconds it is".[40] Benigno and Poniewozik criticized "Forget You" for not having any profanity that was in the original recording. Poniewozik liked Paltrow's "deeper voice". He gave her cover a "A". Benigno liked the original version better.[6][40] Rolling Stone's Erica Futterman believed the "clean version" of the song did not affect its success. She said that it was "charming and sassy".[41] Megan Vick of Billboard called it "the most exciting number (song)" of the episode.[42] Stack gave the song an "A+". He also said it was "one of the most memorable and energetic Glee performance(s) ever, thank in no small part to Paltrow".[43] Green told MTV that we was "flattered" by the cover, mostly because he did not know Paltrow would perform it after he was allowed to be in the audience watching the episode filming.[44] He called her performance "great". He also said that he did not know that she could sing.[45]

Benigno and Stack gave a good review for the choreography of "Make 'Em Laugh". They gave it a "B" and "B+". These were lower grades than they gave "Forget You".[40][43] Vick said that Glee covers songs from musicals to often introduce classic songs to viewers in a more modern way. He felt that "Make 'Em Laugh" did not do this.[42] The Chicago cover did not get a positive review from many critics. Futterman, The Wall Street Journal's Raymund Flandez and The Atlantic's Patrick Burns all believed the choreography was "lacking".[41][46][47] Kevin Fallon said that Glee should not be "overusing recreations". He said that they had done this in other episodes. These included The Power of Madonna, Britney/Brittany and The Rocky Horror Glee Show.[46] Todd VanDerWerff of the A.V. Club said he did not like the performances. He said they were "outright plagiarism", not an homage (in respect)" to the original artist.[7]

For the song "Singin' in the Rain/ Umbrella", Benigno and Futterman compared the songs as a better mash-up than the previous episode's mash-up. Benigno gave the cover a "B". He said that by using "Singin' in the Rain" as the chorus, the song lacked "catharsis".[40] This was also seen by Flandez. He gave positive reviews on the costumes, props and staging, but had hoped that the cover had more "bite" and "attitude".[47] Futterman said it was a "buoyant (cheerful) and catchy homage to the old and the new [that] perfectly captures Glee's musical spirit".[41] Vick felt the song could not compare to the previous episode's mash-ups. She believed the staging was "implausible" (not believable).[42] Stack wrote that he loved the mash-up. He gave it an "A-".[43] Amy Reiter of the Los Angeles Times liked the choreography.[48]

References

  1. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (November 17, 2010). "Homework Was Never Quite Like This: Gwyneth Paltrow Does ‘Glee’". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/homework-was-never-quite-like-this-gwyneth-paltrow-does-glee/?src=mv. Retrieved November 17, 2010. 
  2. ↑ Mullins, Jenna (November 16, 2010). "Glee-Dux: Gwyneth Paltrow Makes Her Debut, Flirts With Schue—and Sue Takes Over, Too!". E! Online. Comcast. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  3. ↑ Chaney, Jen (November 16, 2010). "Gwyneth Paltrow, 'Glee' and why the mocking of her insouciance must end". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/11/gwyneth_paltrow_glee_and_why_t.html. Retrieved November 18, 2010. 
  4. ↑ Berk, Brett (November 17, 2010). "The Gay Guide to Glee, Season 2 Episode 7: "The Substitute"". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  5. ↑ Canning, Robert (November 17, 2010). "Glee: "The Substitute" Review". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Poniewozik, James (November 17, 2010). "Glee Watch: Dysfunction Junction, What's Your Function?". Time (Time Inc). http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/11/17/glee-watch-dysfunction-junction-whats-your-function/. Retrieved November 17, 2010. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 VanDerWerff, Todd (November 16, 2010). "The Substitute". The AV Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Glee: Not Funny". December 3, 2010. Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  9. ↑ Bianco, Robert (November 17, 2010). "Critic's Corner Tuesday: 'Glee,' 'NCIS'". USA Today (Gannett Company). https://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2010-11-15-critics-corner_N.htm. Retrieved November 18, 2010. 
  10. ↑ "New Details on Gwyneth Paltrow's Upcoming Glee Gig". Us Weekly. Wenner Media. September 27, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Shabeeb, Nadine (November 10, 2010). "Glee Creator: Gwyneth Paltrow Pulls Off 'Really Hard Dance Number'". People. Time Inc. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  12. ↑ Hassan, Genevieve (September 22, 2010). Gwyneth Paltrow to appear in Glee. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11389291. Retrieved November 18, 2010. 
  13. ↑ dos Santos, Kristin (September 20, 2010). "Gwyneth Paltrow Is In Negotiations to Guest on Glee! And You Won't Believe Who She Would Be Playing..." E! Online. Comcast. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  14. ↑ "TV Spoiler Chat, Oct. 4". E! Online. Comcast. October 4, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  15. ↑ Mitovich, Matt (November 4, 2010). "Gwyneth Does 'Glee': The Latest On Her Censored Tune And More". Fancast. Comcast Interactive Media. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  16. ↑ dos Santos, Kristin (November 17, 2010). "Will Gwyneth Paltrow Return to Glee? Ryan Murphy Tells Us". E! Online. Comcast. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "More 'Glee' For Gwyneth!". Access Hollywood. NBC. December 12, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  18. ↑ Stack, Tim (January 8, 2011). "'Glee' exclusive: Season 2 to feature more Gwyneth and Gaga!". Entertainment Weekly (Time Inc). http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/08/glee-exclusive-gwyneth-paltrow-ladygaga/. Retrieved January 8, 2011. 
  19. ↑ Mitovich, Matt (September 10, 2011). "Emmys: HBO Dominates Early Races With 15 Wins; Glee, Grey's, SNL, Community Grab Gold". TVLine. Mail.com Media. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Keck, William (November 9, 2010). "Glee Exclusive: On the Set of TV's Hottest Show". TV Guide. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  21. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (October 4, 2010). "Scoop: 'Glee' cast gets miniaturized!". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  22. ↑ Mullins, Jenna (October 26, 2010). "Glee-Dux: Oh, the Rocky Horror! Find Out What Went Down and What's Coming Up". E! Online. Comcast. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  23. ↑ *Nguyen, Hanh (November 16, 2010). "'Glee' Jessalyn Gilsig on Gwyneth Paltrow, that jerk Will and a new love interest". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  24. ↑ Glee: Season 2, Volume 1 [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Harper, Jen (November 16, 2010). "'Glee' Recap: Gwyneth and a Death Threat". BuddyTV. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  26. ↑ dos Santos, Kristin (October 5, 2010). "Glee Boss Dishes on the Return of Jonathan Groff, "Trouble" for Rachel, the Super Bowl and More!". E! Online. Comcast. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  27. ↑ Bentley, Jean (November 3, 2010). "'Glee: The Music, Volume 4' Track Listing Released". TV Squad. AOL. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Glee Cast Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Glee Cast Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Discography Glee Cast". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  31. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 17, 2010). "Tuesday Finals: Glee Sings Louder, Adjusted Up; Detroit 187 Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  32. ↑ Toff, Benjamin (November 17, 2010). "Bristol Palin Survives". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/arts/television/18arts-BRISTOLPALIN_BRF.html. Retrieved November 17, 2010. 
  33. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 23, 2010). "TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: NFL, Glee, Modern Family, NCIS, Dancing With the Stars Top Week 9 Viewing". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  34. ↑ Gorman, Bill (November 10, 2010). "Tuesday Finals: NCIS, Glee, Life Unexpected Adjusted Up; Detroit 187, Raising Hope Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Top Programs - Total Canada (English): November 15–21, 2010" (PDF). BBM Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Top Programs - Total Canada (English): November 8–14, 2010" (PDF). BBM Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  37. ↑ Dale, David (November 22, 2010). "The ratings race: Week 48, end of "official" ratings". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/blogs/the-tribal-mind/the-ratings-race-week-48-end-of-official-ratings/20101122-182zj.html. Retrieved December 9, 2010. 
  38. ↑ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes: E4 w/e 27 Feb 2011". BARB. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes: Others w/e 27 Feb 2011". BARB. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 Benigno, Anthony (November 17, 2010). "'Glee' recap: Gwyneth Paltrow's substitute Holly Holiday seduces McKinley High's singing club". Daily News (New York City). http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/11/17/2010-11-17_glee_recap_gwyneth_paltrows_substitute_holly_holiday_seduces_mckinley_highs_sing.html?page=2. Retrieved November 17, 2010. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Futterman, Erica (November 17, 2010). "'Glee' Recap: Cee Lo and Rihanna vs. Broadway in 'The Substitute'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Vick, Megan (November 17, 2010). "Gwyneth Paltrow Plays the Cool Substitute on 'Glee'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Stack, Tim (November 17, 2010). "'Glee' recapt: Give Gwyneth the Emmy!". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  44. ↑ Ziegbe, Mawuse (November 12, 2010). "Cee Lo 'Flattered' By Gwyneth Paltrow's 'Glee' Cover". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Cee-Lo Green Critiques Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee". Us Magazine. Time Inc. November 18, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Brown, Meghan; Burns, Patrick; Fallon, Kevin (November 17, 2010). "'Glee': Gwyneth Paltrow Brings Fun Back". The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Flandez, Raymund (November 16, 2010). "‘Glee’ Season 2, Episode 7: ‘The Substitute’ with Gwyneth Paltrow". The Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones & Company). http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/11/16/%E2%80%98glee%E2%80%99-season-2-episode-7-%E2%80%98the-substitute%E2%80%99-with-gwyneth-paltrow/. Retrieved November 17, 2010. 
  48. ↑ Reiter, Amy (November 17, 2010). "'Glee' recap: Gwyneth Paltrow fever -- catch it!". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/11/glee-recap-gwyneth-paltrow-fever-catch-it.html. Retrieved November 17, 2010. 

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